System for detection of the locking states of a motor vehicle

ABSTRACT

A system for the detection of at least an open state of an opening of a motor vehicle and two other states of a lock of said opening, called a first state and a second state, includes two switching devices associated with the opening and the lock. One of the two switching devices includes a first contact breaker with a normally open or normally closed position detecting at least the open state of the opening. The two switching devices are connected to a ground cable. The first contact breaker detects the first state and is connected to a first information cable. The other of the two switching devices includes a second contact breaker with a position normally open or normally closed detecting two states and is connected to a second information cable. Of the two states, one is common with the state detected by the first contact breaker. The first and second information cables are connected to analytical means.

The invention relates to a system of detecting states of a motor vehiclelock.

In motor vehicle opening locks with a motorized control device, it isnecessary to detect by means of sensors the open/closed state of theopening and the action or the blocked/unblocked state of the lock. Acertain number of sensors is used to do this.

In a known manner, three contact breakers may be used with twopositions, open and closed, the first detecting the open/closed state ofthe opening, the second detecting the action of blocking at the barreland the third detecting the action of unblocking at the barrel. Thesethree contact breakers are each connected to an information wireconnected to analysis means and to a common ground wire.

Patent document DE 42 22 018 describes such a detection systemcomprising two contact breakers each interacting with a profile of a camthat is integral with the barrel and that, when the barrel is moved,detects the blocked and unblocked states. To do this, one of the contactbreakers or one of the cam profiles is movable. In such a system, athird contact breaker must be used to detect the open/closed state ofthe opening.

According to a variant, two contact breakers, in particular the contactbreakers for detecting the blocking action and the unblocking action,may be replaced by a three-position switch. The system then comprisesonly two switching devices, but a three-position switch is relativelycostly.

Known in the prior art is patent EP 1008711 which describes a detectionsystem. This system comprises a contact breaker detecting theopen/closed state of the opening and a switch detecting in one switchedposition the blocked state and in its other switched position theunblocked state. The information terminal of the contact breaker isconnected to the information terminal of the switch so as to allow thiscontact breaker and this switch to be connected via two connecting wiresto analysis means. This system therefore makes it possible to detect theopen/closed state of the opening and the blocked/unblocked state andcomprises a ground wire and two information wires connected to theanalysis means.

In this system for controlling the blocked/unblocked state of amotorized lock, three states may be determined combining the state ofthe opening in question and the state of the lock, that is:

-   1. the open state of the opening when the lock is unblocked,-   2. the closed state of the opening when the lock is blocked,-   3. the closed state of the opening when the lock is unblocked.

This patent in no way makes it possible to obtain an item of informationconcerning the states of the barrel, that is the “neutral” state (noaction/control of the barrel on the lock), the state of control ofblocking the lock and the state of unblocking the lock.

The system of the invention intends to remedy the disadvantages of thisprior art by offering a system capable of detecting the states of thebarrel, which makes it possible to act on the blocking/unblocking of thelocks of the other openings of the vehicle, and does not requiremechanical connections between the barrel and the lock.

Such a system, although using only two sensors, requires the use of aswitch with two connection information positions and the connection ofthe terminals of the contact breaker and the switch.

Also known in the prior art is patent FR 2778939, filed by theapplicant, which does not constitute a system for processing detectedinformation because it does not comprise any analysis means connected tothe two contact breakers. Furthermore, it does not make it possible,like patent EP 1008711, to determine the state of the barrel.

The object of the invention is to provide a detection system also withtwo sensors but with a simpler structure and therefore more optimized inthe matter of manufacture and cost while making it easier to analyze theinformation downstream.

More generally, the invention applies to the detection of other statesof a lock of a motor vehicle opening. For example, the system accordingto the invention also makes it possible to detect the first catch orsecond catch positions of the lock, by detecting the position of thebolt of the lock.

To do this, the invention proposes a system for detecting at least theopen state of an opening of a motor vehicle and two other states of thelock of this opening, called first and second state, comprising twoswitching devices associated with the opening and with the lock of whicha contact breaker with a normally open or normally closed positiondetecting at least the open state of the opening, these two devicesbeing connected to a ground cable, characterized in that this firstcontact breaker also detects said first state and is connected to afirst information cable and in that the second switching device is alsoa contact breaker with a normally open or normally closed position alsodetecting two states, of which one is common with the states detected bythe first contact breaker, and is connected to a second informationcable, these two information cables being connected to analysis means.

“Contact breaker” means either a contactor or a contact breaker. Notethat a contactor is a device that makes the electric circuit when a userpresses on the control member while a contact breaker is a device thatopens the electric circuit when a user presses on the control member.

One of the advantages of the present invention lies in the fact that thedevice according to the invention uses exclusively contact breakers andnot switches. The contact breaker is a simpler technical solution,therefore more reliable and less costly than the switch solution which,it should be noted, consists of a component with three outputs, forminga contact breaker and a contactor.

Preferably, one of said contact breakers is provided with a movableblade capable, when it is pressed to a point at a distance from thecontact of this contact breaker, of actuating this contact.

Such a contact breaker has the advantage of being able to be switched bypressing on several points of this blade. It therefore allows switchingby two actuation elements, without posing a problem of space and ofconstraint of positioning of these actuation elements. The contactbreaker is actuated by means of two separate mechanical actions whichcorrespond to different kinematic chains and/or different states of theopening.

According to a first preferred embodiment of the invention, the lockbeing associated with a barrel, said first state is the unblocked stateof said barrel and is detected by the corresponding action and thesecond contact breaker detects this unblocked state and the blockedstate of said barrel, both detected by the corresponding action.

In this case, preferably, the first contact breaker is provided with amovable blade capable, when it is pressed to a point at a distance fromthe contact of this contact breaker, of actuating this contact.

Advantageously, the system comprises a pin sliding from a first positionto a second position when the opening is opened and vice versa when theopening is closed and actuating said contact in its second position.

Advantageously, this system comprises a member integral in rotation withthe barrel and supporting two cams, one directly actuating the contactof said second contact breaker when the barrel rotates following ablocking action and when the barrel is rotated following an unblockingaction and the other moving a rotary lever when the barrel is rotated,following said unblocking action from an inactive position of this leverto an activated position in which this lever exerts said pressure onsaid blade.

According to a second preferred embodiment of the invention, a lockcomprising a double-catch bolt interacting with a pawl and associatedwith an internal blocking lever, said first state is the position stateof the bolt when the pawl is abutting the first catch of the latter andthe second contact breaker also detects the open state of the openingand the second state which is the position state of the internalblocking lever.

In this case, preferably, the second contact breaker is provided with amovable blade capable, when it is pressed to at least one point at adistance from the contact of this contact breaker, of actuating thiscontact.

Advantageously, said pressure on said blade is exerted by the internalblocking lever in the blocked position.

Advantageously, the system comprises a member integral in rotation withthe bolt and supporting two cams, one directly actuating the contact ofsaid first contact breaker when the bolt is in the open position andwhen the bolt is in a position such that the pawl of the lock isabutting the first catch and the other moving a rotary lever when thebolt is rotated in the open position from an inactive position of thislever to an activated position in which this lever exerts said pressureon said blade.

The invention also relates to a lock of a motor vehicle opening fittedwith a detection system as specified hereinabove.

The invention is described hereinafter in greater detail with the aid offigures representing only preferred embodiments of the invention.

FIG. 1 is a representation of the electric circuit of a detection systemaccording to the invention according to a first embodiment.

FIGS. 2 to 5 and 7 are partial views of a motor vehicle lock fitted witha detection system according to this first embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 8 is a representation of the electric circuit of a detection systemaccording to the invention according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a partial view of a motor vehicle lock fitted with a detectionsystem according to this second embodiment of the invention.

FIGS. 1 to 5 and 7 represent a first embodiment of the invention.

The system, as represented schematically in FIG. 1, comprises twoswitching devices 1, 2 associated with the opening and with the lock ofwhich one contact breaker 1 with a position normally open or normallyclosed detecting the open/closed state CPO of the opening. This firstcontact breaker 1 also detects the unblocking action AD and is connectedto a first information cable 3, and the second switching device is alsoa contact breaker 2 with a position normally open or normally closeddetecting the blocking action AC and the unblocking action AD and isconnected to a second information cable 4. These two contact breakers 1,2 are connected to a common ground cable 5 and these three cables 3, 4,5 are connected to analysis means 6.

According to a variant not shown, but entering into the scope of theinvention, the detection of the blocking and unblocking actions may beinverted. More precisely, the first contact breaker 1 may detect theblocking action AC instead of the unblocking action AD.

The two contact breakers 1 and 2 are either normally open contactbreakers or normally closed contact breakers.

Returning to the embodiment represented in FIG. 1 and supposing thatthese contact breakers are both normally open, if the information on theinformation output cables 3 and 4 is coded as follows:

F(3-5)=1 in the closed state of the connection between the informationcable of the first contact breaker 1 and the ground cable 5 and F(3-5)=0in the open state of the connection between the information cable of thefirst contact breaker 1 and the ground cable 5;

F(4-5)=1 in the closed state of the connection between the informationcable of the second contact breaker 2 and the ground cable 5 andF(3-5)=0 in the open state of the connection between the informationcable of the second contact breaker 2 and the ground cable 5;

the following coding information table is obtained:

TABLE 1 Information Information F(3-5) F(4-5) State of the lock 0 0Opening closed No blocking or unblocking action (barrel in neutralposition) 0 1 Opening closed Blocking action 1 1 Opening closedUnblocking action 1 0 Opening open No blocking or unblocking action(barrel in neutral position) 1 1 Opening open Blocking or unblockingaction

It should be noted that the main states to be detected on a lock are thefirst four states of the table. In a configuration for detecting thesefour essential states, the system according to the invention allows adirect detection of the state of the lock.

The fifth state of the table, that is “Opening open; Blocking orunblocking action” is usually optional. This state corresponds to anopen opening and to an action performed on the barrel. In the case ofdetection of this state, the information (1, 1) is redundant for twostates “Opening closed; Unblocking action” and “Opening open; Blockingor unblocking action” and an analysis of the foregoing information maybe necessary for the detection of the state of the lock. If theforegoing information is (0, 0), it is the “Opening closed; Unblockingaction” state. If the foregoing information is (1, 0), it is the“Opening open; Blocking or unblocking action” state.

As a variant, this “Opening open; Blocking or unblocking action” statemay be undetected because it is of no use. Specifically, on certainmotor vehicles, the barrel may not be operated when the opening is open.

If the contact breakers 1 and 2 are normally closed contact breakers orone normally open and the other normally closed, an equivalent logic isused.

A motor vehicle lock fitted with a detection system according to thisfirst embodiment of the invention is represented in FIGS. 2 to 7 indifferent states.

These figures represent a member 10 integral in rotation with the barrel16 of the lock and a sliding part 11 connected to the bolt of the lock.Said member is for example a wheel 10 and supports two cams 12 and 13. Asliding pin 14 interacts with the sliding part 11.

The first contact breaker 1 is provided with a flexible blade 1Acapable, when it is pressed to a point at a distance from the contact 1Bof this contact breaker, of actuating this contact. A rotary lever 15has one end capable of being moved by the second cam 13 of the wheel 10and its other end capable of coming to press the blade 1A of the contactbreaker. This second cam 13 moves this rotary lever 15 when the barreland therefore the wheel 10 is rotated, following an unblocking action,from an inactive position of this lever to an activated position inwhich this lever 15 exerts said pressure on said blade 1A.

The sliding pin 14, for its part, may pass from a first position to asecond position when the opening is opened and conversely when theopening is closed and actuates the contact 1B of the first contactbreaker 1 in the open position of the opening.

The second contact breaker 2 is placed on the stroke of the first cam 12shaped with two active protruding portions, one corresponding to theblocked position and the other corresponding to the unblocked position,in order to actuate the contact 2A of this contact breaker 2 when thebarrel 16 and therefore the wheel 10 is rotated following a blockingaction and when the barrel 16 and therefore the wheel 10 is rotatedfollowing an unblocking action.

FIG. 2 illustrates the “Opening closed; No blocking or unblockingaction” state. The pin 14 is in the inactive position, as is the lever15. The contact 2A of the second contact breaker 2 is placed between thetwo protruding portions of the first cam 12 and not 30 switched. Thebarrel 16 is in the neutral position. The corresponding information istherefore (0, 0).

FIG. 3 illustrates the “Opening closed; Blocking action” state. The pin14 is in the inactive position, as is the lever 15. The contact 2A ofthe second contact breaker 2 is switched by a protruding portion of thefirst cam 12. The corresponding information is therefore (0, 1).

FIG. 4 illustrates the “Opening closed; Unblocking action” state. Thepin 14 is in the inactive position. The lever 15 is acted upon by thesecond cam 13 and is moved to come to press the elastic blade 1A of thefirst contact breaker 1 which switches the corresponding contact 1B. Thecontact 2A of the second contact breaker 2 is switched by the otherprotruding portion of the first cam 12. The corresponding information istherefore (1, 1).

FIG. 5 illustrates the “Opening open; No blocking or unblocking action”state. The pin 14 is in the active position, pushed by the part 11, andcomes to switch the contact 1B of the first contact breaker 1. The lever15 is inactive. The contact 2A of the second contact breaker 2 is placedbetween the two protruding portions of the first cam 12 and notswitched. The barrel is in the neutral position. The correspondinginformation is therefore (1, 0).

FIG. 7 illustrates the “Opening open; Unblocking action” state. The pin14 is in the active position, pushed by the part 11, and comes to switchthe contact 2B of the second contact breaker 2. The lever 15 is actedupon by the second cam 13 and is moved to come to press the elasticblade 1A of the first contact breaker 1 which switches the correspondingcontact 1B. The contact 2A of the second contact breaker 2 is switchedby the other protruding portion of the first cam 12. The correspondinginformation is therefore (1, 1).

FIGS. 8 and 9 represent a second embodiment of the invention.

The object of this second embodiment is to detect the position of thelock, by means of the position of its bolt instead of that of itsbarrel.

The system comprises, as represented schematically in FIG. 8, twoswitching devices 1′, 2′ associated with the opening and with the lockof which a first contact breaker 1′ with a position normally open ornormally closed detecting the open/closed state of the opening. Thisfirst contact breaker 1′ also detects the “first catch” state and isconnected to a first information cable 3′, and the other switchingdevice is also a contact breaker 2′ with a position normally open ornormally closed detecting the open state and the internal blocked stateLCI and is connected to an information cable 4′. These two contactbreakers 1′, 2′ are connected to a common ground cable 5′ and thesethree cables 3′, 4′, 5′ are connected to analysis means 6′.

The two contact breakers 1′ and 2′ or either normally open contactbreakers or normally closed contact breakers.

Supposing that these contact breakers are both normally open, if theinformation on the information output cables 3′ and 4′ is coded asfollows:

F(3′-5′)=1 in the closed state of the connection between the informationcable of the first contact breaker 1′ and the ground cable 5′ andF(3′-5′)=0 in the open state of the connection between the informationcable of the first contact breaker 1′ and the ground cable 5′;

F(4′-5′)=1 in the closed state of the connection between the informationcable of the second contact breaker 2′ and the ground cable 5′ andF(3′-5′)=0 in the open state of the connection between the informationcable of the second contact breaker 2′ and the ground cable 5′;

the following coding information table is obtained:

TABLE 2 Information Information F(3′-5′) F(4′-5′) State of the lock 0 0Second catch unblocked 0 1 Second catch blocked 1 0 First catchunblocked 1 1 Open unblocked 1 1 Open blocked 1 1 First catch blocked

It should be noted that the main states to be detected on a lock are thefirst four states of the table. In a configuration for detecting thesefour essential states, the system according to the invention allows adirect detection of the state of the lock.

The fifth and sixth states of the table, that is “Open blocked” and“First catch blocked” are usually optional. These two states may betreated in the same manner as the state (1, 1) corresponding to “Openunblocked” for example by interdiction of a centralized electricblocking when the opening is open or the lock is in the first catchposition.

If the contact breakers 1′ and 2′ are normally closed contact breakersor one normally open and the other normally closed, an equivalent logicis used.

A motor vehicle lock fitted with a detection system according to thissecond embodiment of the invention is represented in FIG. 9.

This figure represents a lock bolt 20 and its rotary pawl 21. This bolt20 is intended to interact with a strike 22 supported by the vehicle. Amember 23 is integral in rotation with the bolt 20 of the lock and isfor example a wheel 23. This wheel 23 supports two cams 24 and 25. Thelock also comprises an internal rotary blocking lever 26.

The contact breaker 2′, called the second contact breaker, is providedwith a flexible blade 2′A capable, when it is pressed to a point at adistance from the contact 2′B of this contact breaker, of actuating thiscontact. A rotary lever 27 has one end capable of being moved by thesecond cam 25 of the wheel 23 and its other end capable of coming topress the blade 2′A of the contact breaker. This second cam 25 movesthis rotary lever 27 when the bolt and therefore the wheel 23 isrotated, following an opening action of the opening, from an inactiveposition of this lever to an activated position in which this lever 27exerts said pressure on said blade 1′A.

The internal rotary blocking lever 26, for its part, may travel from afirst position to a second position when the lock is blocked andconversely when the lock is unblocked and actuates the contact 2′B ofthe second contact breaker 2′ in the blocked position. More precisely,in the example shown, the internal blocking lever 26 also exerts apressure on the elastic blade 2′A of the contact breaker 2′, this timeclose to its free end.

The contact breaker 1′, called the first contact breaker, is placed onthe stroke of the first cam 24 designed with two active protrudingportions, one corresponding to the first catch position and the othercorresponding to the open position, in order to actuate the contact 2Aof this contact breaker 2 when the bolt and therefore the wheel 23 isrotated following an action of closure of the first catch and when thebolt and therefore the wheel 23 is rotated following an opening action.

FIG. 9 illustrates the “Second catch unblocked” state. The pawl 21 ispressing on the second catch 20B of the bolt having traveled beyond thefirst catch 20A.

The lever 26 is in the unblocked position, inactive relative to thesecond contact breaker 2′. The rotary lever 27 is in the position thatis deactivated by the second cam 2 and does not switch the secondcontact breaker 2′.

The contact 1′A of the first contact breaker 1′ is placed outside thetwo active portions of the first cam 24 and not switched. Thecorresponding information is therefore (0, 0).

1. A system for detecting at least an open state of an opening of a doorof a motor vehicle and two other states of a lock of this opening,called a first state and a second state, comprising: a first switchingdevice associated with the opening of the door and the lock comprising afirst contact breaker with a normally open or normally closed position,wherein the first switching device is configured to detect at least theopen state of the door, wherein the first contact breaker detects thefirst state of the lock and is connected to a first information cable; asecond switching device associated with the opening of the door and thelock comprising a second contact breaker with a normally open ornormally closed position, wherein the second contact breaker isconfigured to detect both the first and second state of the lock and isconnected to a second information cable, wherein the first statedetected by the second contact breaker is common with the first statedetected by the first contact breaker, wherein the first and secondinformation cables and the ground cable are connected to analysis means.2. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein one of said first andsecond contact breakers comprises a movable blade capable of actuatingthe one of the contact breakers, wherein actuating occurs when themovable blade is pressed to a point at a distance from a contact of theone of the contact breakers.
 3. A system for detecting states of a lockassociated with a barrel as claimed in claim 2, wherein said first stateis the unblocked state of said barrel and is detected by a correspondingaction, and wherein the second contact breaker detects the unblockedstate and the blocked state of said barrel, both detected by thecorresponding action.
 4. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein thesystem is configured to detect states of a lock associated with abarrel, wherein said first state is an unblocked state of said barreland is detected by a corresponding action, and wherein the secondcontact breaker detects the unblocked state and the blocked state ofsaid barrel, both detected by the corresponding action.
 5. The system asclaimed in claim 4, wherein the first contact breaker is provided with amovable blade capable of actuating a contact of the first contactbreaker wherein the actuating occurs when the movable blade is pressedto a point at a distance from the contact.
 6. The system as claimed inclaim 5, further comprising a pin sliding from a first position to asecond position when the opening is opened and vice versa when theopening is closed and actuating the contact in the second position. 7.The system as claimed in claim 5, further comprising a member integralin rotation with the barrel and supporting two cams, one directlyactuating a contact of said second contact breaker when the barrelrotates following a blocking action and when the barrel is rotatedfollowing an unblocking action and the other moving a rotary lever whenthe barrel is rotated following said unblocking action from an inactiveposition of the lever to an activated position in which the lever exertspressure on said movable blade.
 8. The system as claimed in claim 6,further comprising a member integral in rotation with the barrel andsupporting two cams, one directly actuating a contact of said secondcontact breaker when the barrel rotates following a blocking action andwhen the barrel is rotated following an unblocking action and the othermoving a rotary lever when the barrel is rotated following saidunblocking action from an inactive position of the lever to an activatedposition in which the lever exerts pressure on said movable blade. 9.The system as claimed in claim 1, further comprising: a double-catchbolt interacting with a pawl and associated with an internal blockinglever, wherein said first state is a position state of the double-catchbolt when the pawl is abutting a first catch of the double-catch bolt,and wherein the second contact breaker detects the open state of theopening and the second state, which is a position state of the internalblocking lever.
 10. The system as claimed in claim 9, wherein the secondcontact breaker comprises a movable blade capable of actuating thesecond contact breaker, wherein the actuating occurs when the movableblade is pressed to at least one point at a distance from a contact ofthe second contact breaker.
 11. A lock of a motor vehicle opening fittedwith a detection system as claimed in claim
 9. 12. The system as claimedin claim 10, wherein the pressure on the blade is exerted by theinternal locking lever in the locked position.
 13. The system as claimedin claim 10, further comprising a member integral in rotation with thedouble-catch bolt and supporting two cams, one directly actuating thecontact of said first contact breaker when the double-catch bolt is inthe open position and when the double-catch bolt is in a position suchthat the pawl of the lock is abutting the first catch of thedouble-catch bolts and the other cam moving a rotary lever when the boltis rotated in the open position from an inactive position of the rotarylever to an activated position in which the rotary lever exerts pressureon said movable blade.
 14. The system as claimed in claim 12, furthercomprising a member integral in rotation with the double-catch bolt andsupporting two cams, one directly actuating the contact of said firstcontact breaker when the double-catch bolt is in the open position andwhen the double-catch bolt is in a position such that the pawl of thelock is abutting the first catch of the double-catch bolt, and the othercam moving a rotary lever when the bolt is rotated in the open positionfrom an inactive position of the rotary lever to an activated positionin which the rotary lever exerts pressure on said movable blade.
 15. Alock of a motor vehicle opening fitted with a detection system asclaimed in claim 1.